05-there are no guilty people-第2章

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Theodorite　was　the　grown…up　son　of　the　house；
and　a　ne'er…do…well。　　His　name　was　Theodore；
but　some　one　had　once　called　him　Theodorite
either　as　a　joke　or　to　tease　him；　and；　as　it　seemed
funny；　the　name　stuck　to　him；　although　his　doings
were　no　longer　in　the　least　amusing。　　So　it　was
now。　　He　had　been　to　the　university；　but　left　it
in　his　second　year；　and　joined　a　regiment　of　horse
guards；　but　he　gave　that　up　also；　and　was　now
living　in　the　country；　doing　nothing；　finding　fault；
and　feeling　discontented　with　everything。　　Theo…
dorite　was　still　in　bed：　　so　were　the　other　members
of　the　householdAnna　Mikhailovna；　its　mis…
tress；　her　sister；　the　widow　of　a　general；　and　a
landscape　painter　who　lived　with　the　family。

Volgin　took　his　panama　hat　from　the　hall　table
（it　had　cost　twenty　roubles）　and　his　cane　with　its
carved　ivory　handle；　and　went　out。　　Crossing　the
veranda；　gay　with　flowers；　he　walked　through　the
flower　garden；　in　the　centre　of　which　was　a　raised
round　bed；　with　rings　of　red；　white；　and　blue
flowers；　and　the　initials　of　the　mistress　of　the
house　done　in　carpet　bedding　in　the　centre。　
Leaving　the　flower　garden　Volgin　entered　the
avenue　of　lime　trees；　hundreds　of　years　old；　which
peasant　girls　were　tidying　and　sweeping　with
spades　and　brooms。　　The　gardener　was　busy
measuring；　and　a　boy　was　bringing　something　in
a　cart。　　Passing　these　Volgin　went　into　the　park
of　at　least　a　hundred　and　twenty…five　acres；
filled　with　fine　old　trees；　and　intersected　by　a
network　of　well…kept　walks。　　Smoking　as　he
strolled　Volgin　took　his　favourite　path　past　the
summer…house　into　the　fields　beyond。　　It　was
pleasant　in　the　park；　but　it　was　still　nicer　in　the
fields。　　On　the　right　some　women　who　were　dig…
ging　potatoes　formed　a　mass　of　bright　red　and
white　colour；　on　the　left　were　wheat　fields；　mead…
ows；　and　grazing　cattle；　and　in　the　foreground；
slightly　to　the　right；　were　the　dark；　dark　oaks　of
Littleports。　　Volgin　took　a　deep　breath；　and　felt
glad　that　he　was　alive；　especially　here　in　his
cousin's　home；　where　he　was　so　thoroughly　en…
joying　the　rest　from　his　work　at　the　bank。

〃Lucky　people　to　live　in　the　country；〃　he
thought。　　〃True；　what　with　his　farming　and　his
Zemstvo；　the　owner　of　the　estate　has　very　little
peace　even　in　the　country；　but　that　is　his　own
lookout　〃　　Volgin　shook　his　head；　lit　another
cigarette；　and；　stepping　out　firmly　with　his　power…
ful　feet　clad　in　his　thick　English　boots；　began　to
think　of　the　heavy　winter's　work　in　the　bank　that
was　in　front　of　him。　　〃I　shall　be　there　every　day
from　ten　to　two；　sometimes　even　till　five。　　And
the　board　meetings　。　。　。　　And　private　inter…
views　with　clients。　。　。　。　　Then　the　Duma。
Whereas　here。　。　。　。　　It　is　delightful。　　It
may　be　a　little　dull；　but　it　is　not　for　long　〃　　He
smiled。　　After　a　stroll　in　Littleports　he　turned
back；　going　straight　across　a　fallow　field　which
was　being　ploughed。　　A　herd　of　cows；　calves；
sheep；　and　pigs；　which　belonged　to　the　village
community；　was　grazing　there。　　The　shortest
way　to　the　park　was　to　pass　through　the　herd。　
He　frightened　the　sheep；　which　ran　away　one
after　another；　and　were　followed　by　the　pigs；　of
which　two　little　ones　stared　solemnly　at　him。　
The　shepherd　boy　called　to　the　sheep　and　cracked
his　whip。　　〃How　far　behind　Europe　we　are；〃
thought　Volgin；　recalling　his　frequent　holidays
abroad。　　〃You　would　not　find　a　single　cow　like
that　anywhere　in　Europe　〃　　Then；　wanting　to
find　out　where　the　path　which　branched　off　from
the　one　he　was　on　led　to　and　who　was　the　owner
of　the　herd；　he　called　to　the　boy。

〃Whose　herd　is　it？〃

The　boy　was　so　filled　with　wonder；　verging　on
terror；　when　he　gazed　at　the　hat；　the　well…brushed
beard；　and　above　all　the　gold…rimmed　eyeglasses；
that　he　could　not　reply　at　once。　　When　Volgin
repeated　his　question　the　boy　pulled　himself　to…
gether；　and　said；　〃Ours。〃　　〃But　whose　is
'ours'？〃　said　Volgin；　shaking　his　head　and
smiling。　　The　boy　was　wearing　shoes　of　plaited
birch　bark；　bands　of　linen　round　his　legs；　a　dirty；
unbleached　shirt　ragged　at　the　shoulder；　and　a　cap
the　peak　of　which　had　been　torn。

〃Whose　is　'ours'？〃

〃The　Pirogov　village　herd。〃

〃How　old　are　you？

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Can　you　read？〃

〃No；　I　can't。〃

〃Didn't　you　go　to　school？〃

〃Yes；　I　did。〃

〃Couldn't　you　learn　to　read？〃

〃No。〃

〃Where　does　that　path　lead？〃

The　boy　told　him；　and　Volgin　went　on　to…
wards　the　house；　thinking　how　he　would　chaff
Nicholas　Petrovich　about　the　deplorable　condi…
tion　of　the　village　schools　in　spite　of　all　his　ef…
forts。

On　approaching　the　house　Volgin　looked　at　his
watch；　and　saw　that　it　was　already　past　eleven。　
He　remembered　that　Nicholas　Petrovich　was
going　to　drive　to　the　nearest　town；　and　that　he
had　meant　to　give　him　a　letter　to　post　to　Moscow；
but　the　letter　was　not　written。　　The　letter　was　a
very　important　one　to　a　friend；　asking　him　to　bid
for　him　for　a　picture　of　the　Madonna　which　was
to　be　offered　for　sale　at　an　auction。　　As　he
reached　the　house　he　saw　at　the　door　four　big；
well…fed；　well…groomed；　thoroughbred　horses　har…
nessed　to　a　carriage；　the　black　lacquer　of　which
glistened　in　the　sun。　　The　coachman　was　seated
on　the　box　in　a　kaftan；　with　a　silver　belt；　and　the
horses　were　jingling　their　silver　bells　from　time
to　time。

A　bare…headed；　bare…footed　peasant　in　a　ragged
kaftan　stood　at　the　front　door。　　He　bowed。　
Volgin　asked　what　he　wanted。

〃I　have　come　to　see　Nicholas　Petrovich。〃

〃What　about？〃

〃Because　I　am　in　distressmy　horse　has
died。〃

Volgin　began　to　question　him。　　The　peasant
told　him　how　he　was　situated。　　He　had　five　chil…
dren；　and　this　had　been　his　only　horse。　　Now
it　was　gone。　　He　wept。

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃

〃To　beg　〃　　And　he　knelt　down；　and　remained
kneeling　in　spite　of　Volgin's　expostulations。

〃What　is　your　name？〃

〃Mitri　Sudarikov；〃　answered　the　peasant；　still
kneeling。

Volgin　took　three　roubles　from　his　purse　and
gave　them　to　the　peasant；　who　showed　his　grat…
itude　by　touching　the　ground　with　his　forehead；
and　then　went　into　the　house。　　His　host　was
standing　in　the　hall。

〃Where　is　your　letter？〃　he　asked；　approach…
ing　Volgin；　〃I　am　just　off。〃

〃I'm　awfully　sorry；　I'll　write　it　this　minute；　if
you　will　let　me。　　I　forgot　all　about　it。　　It's　so
pleasant　here　that　one　can　forget　anything。〃

〃All　right；　but　do　be　quick。　　The　horses　have
already　been　standing　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　and
the　flies　are　biting　viciously。　　Can　you　wait；　Ar…
senty？〃　he　asked　the　coachman。

〃Why　not？〃　said　the　coachman；　thinking　to
himself；　〃why　do　they　order　the　horses　when
they　aren't　ready？　The　rush　the　grooms　and　I
hadjust　to　stand　here　and　feed　the　flies。〃

〃Directly；　directly；〃　Volgin　went　towards　his
room；　but　turned　back　to　ask　Nicholas　Petrovich
about　the　begging　peasant。

〃Did　you　see　him？He's　a　drunkard；　but
still　he　is　to　be　pitied。　　Do　be　quick！〃

Volgin　got　out　his　case；　with　all　the　requisites
for　writing；　wrote　the　letter；　made　out　a　cheque
for　a　hundred　and　eighty　roubles；　and；　sealing
down　the　envelope；　took　it　to　Nicholas　Petrovich。

〃Good…bye。〃

Volgin　read　the　newspapers　till　luncheon。　　He
only　read　the　Liberal　papers：　　The　Russian
Gazette；　Speech；　sometimes　The　Russian　Word
but　he　would　not　touch　The　New　Times；　to
which　his　host　subscribed。

While　he　was　scanning　at　his　ease　the　political
news；　the　Tsar's　doings；　the　doings　of　President；
and　ministers　and　decisions　in　the　Duma；　and　was
just　about　to　pass　on　to　the　general　news；　thea…
tres；　science；　murders　and　cholera；　he　heard　the
luncheon　bell　ring。

Thanks　to　the　efforts　of　upwards　of　ten　human
beingscounting　laundresses；　gardeners；　cooks；
kitchen…maids；　butlers　and　footmenthe　table
was　sumptuously　laid　for　eight；　with　silver　water…
jugs；　decanters；　kvass；　wine；　mineral　waters；　cut
glass；　and　fine　table　linen；　while　two　men…servants
were　continually　hurrying　to　and　fro；　bringing
in　and　serving；　and　then　clearing　away　the
hors　d'oeuvre　and　the　various　hot　and　cold
courses。

The　hostess　talked　incessantly　about　every…
thing　that　she　had　been　doing；　thinking；　and　say…
ing；　and　she　evidently　considered　that　everything
that　she　thought